The government has announced that there are now 200 remote working hubs around the country where desk space can be booked using a new app.

Ministers have committed to creating a national network of 400 remote working hubs, and the number of hubs on the connectedhubs.ie platform is set to exceed 200 this week.

Workers can now book desk space at their local hub through the newly launched Connected Hubs mobile app for Android and iOS.

A €5m Connected Hubs Call 2022 fund will be used to build capacity and improve existing facilities.

The initiatives will be underpinned by a new awareness campaign, run by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Western Development Commission to promote the benefits of the hubs.

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"My department has invested €100m in the development of remote working facilities in our towns and villages nationwide. Across Ireland, we have taken many old and derelict buildings and re-purposed them into state-of-the-art Remote Working facilities," said Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development.

"Former banks, cinemas, Garda stations, convents and train stations have become local digital hubs. In addition we have provided funding to upgrade and enhance existing hub facilities. These are now part of a new network called 'connected hubs' – which is at the forefront of our efforts to make remote working a reality for tens of thousands of workers."

Humphreys said further funding would be announced in the coming months and encouraged employers to look at the facilities available "when developing their future plans for blended or hybrid working".

"These hubs can enable your staff to work in a safe, secure environment with high-speed broadband and all the necessary office equipment available to them," she added.

"Over the coming weeks, my department will embark on a major awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of connected hubs for both workers and employers."

(Pic: Getty Images)